Difference Between Romans and Greeks
The people dwelling in the early civilizations of Rome and Greece were referred to as Romans and Greeks respectively. Though Rome and Greece are often confused for one another, its inhabitants have obvious differences in timeline, language, architectural abilities, social values, and much more.
Romans vs Greeks
The main difference between Romans and Greeks is that the Romans existed hundreds of years after the Greeks did. After the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods, Neolithic Greece came into existence in 7000 BC. This was when the farming societies of Greece were established.
Meanwhile, the Ancient Roman civilization appeared in 753 BC and lasted till 476 BC, after which the Roman province of Transalpine was created. According to historians, the Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD and the Eastern Roman Empire in 1453, bringing an end to the civilizations of Rome.
Comparison Table Between Romans and Greeks (in Tabular Form)
| Parameters of Comparison | Romans | Greeks |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Thrived from 753 BC to 1453 | Existed from 7000 BC (Neolithic Greece) to 146 BC |
| Art | Imitated the art of Greeks, but used a more naturalistic approach portraying physical quirks and nuances in expressions of ordinary people | Sculptures of statesmen and generals were physically idealized, like those of Gods |
| Language | The Romans spoke in Latin. | The language spoken in Greece was Greek. |
| Architecture | Architects focused on actual building design and techniques. Romans used some Greek materials but introduced Concrete. | Architects created statuesque figures in buildings using plaster, wood, marbles, and metals. |
| Religion | The Romans imitated the Greek religion but gave the Gods Latin names. (Zeus became Jupiter, Hades became Pluto, Poseidon became Neptune) | The Greeks believed in Pagan God’s – Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, etc. |
| Political Setup | Fluctuated between a democratic set up with a ruler and Monarchy. | Democracy, as people were independent in nature. |
| Nature of People | Intellectuals obsessed with ideals of truth, justice, mathematical theorems, epistemology, philosophy, etc. | Thinkers, philosophers, theologians, authors, poets, political ideologists, political thinkers |
| Life After Death | Believed that leading an ideal, model life would make then Gods in the afterlife. | Believed that on death, they will begin a journey to the underworld. |
Who were Romans?
The Romans came into existence in 753 BC and lasted till 1453. In early times, the Romans used Latin as their language, but later on, Greek, Oscan, and Etruscan were spoken in the Roman Empire as well. A lot of information can be deduced based on the artifacts that these people left behind.
The social hierarchy of the Roman Empire had 5 categories – Senators (Political class), Equestrians (Economic class), Commons (Freeborn Roman Citizens), Freed People (Slaves who had bought their freedom), and Slaves (People born or sold into slavery). Senators and equestrians were considered to be upper class as they were rich, while the rest were deemed as a lower class because of poverty.
Contrary to popular belief, the Romans had a lot of diversity in people and culture. Women were considered to be citizens if they were not born into slavery, but were not allowed to hold power in politics or vote.
The Roman Empire was predatory in nature, meaning that it believed in military-based practices and growth through conquering
Who were Greeks?
Greek farming societies were established in 7000 BC (Neolithic Greece) while Ancient Greece only came into existence in 2800 BC. The inhabitants of Greece spoke Greek and believed in Pagan Gods like Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, etc. An interesting fact is that theatres were invented by the Greeks.
The people of Greece were divided and listed under 5 categories – Slaves, Freedmen, Metics (foreigners living in ancient Greece), Citizens, and Women. Females were at the lowest tier of the hierarchy, even below the slaves.
The Greeks lived in mainland Greece and some Greek Islands. Further down the years, they could even be found in Turkey, Italy, Sicily, North Africa, France, and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Greek civilizations were divided into city-states, each having a tradition, culture, and currency of its own.
The Romans conquered the last city of the Greeks in 146 BC, bringing the Greek civilization to an end. However, people still spoke Greek in small parts of the Roman Empire.
Main Differences Between Romans and Greeks
Conclusion
The main difference between Romans and Greeks is that Romans came into existence hundreds of years after the Greeks did. The Roman Empire conquered the last Greek city in 146 BC, bringing an end to the civilization.
The Romans however imitated the mythological, religious, and artistic ideologies of the Greeks, while translating them into a Roman setup. They even used the same Gods with slight changes in their characters.
Both Greece and Rome were known to have agricultural economies, yet the nature of the inhabitants was quite contrasting. While Greece managed to survive through sea trade, the Romans used military-based tactics to conquer, grow, and flourish.
References
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